Worst air pollution Palm Desert, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Palm Desert is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 AM (O3: 23.9/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Palm Desert is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 22.5/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Palm Desert's air quality reflects the Coachella Valley's enclosed desert basin between the San Jacinto and Little San Bernardino mountains, with vehicle emissions from SR-111 the primary local source. The Banning Pass wind provides powerful periodic ventilation, while under calm conditions the valley's near-complete mountain enclosure creates persistent temperature inversion episodes, windblown desert dust contributes PM10, and summer monsoon ozone from vehicle and desert emissions are the primary seasonal concerns throughout the year.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 04:00
AQI:
Fair
23.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
19.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
2.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
23.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
7.0/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Fair
22.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
18.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
7.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
22.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
7.9/100
Pollen forecast in Palm Desert
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Palm Desert right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Palm Desert is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 23.9/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 AM (O3: 23.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Palm Desert?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Palm Desert will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 22.5/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 22.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Palm Desert?
Seasonal changes shape air quality across Palm Desert: the cleanest air usually comes in winter, when storms periodically flush pollution out of the basin, but hot, sunny summer conditions drive persistent ozone problems, compounded by wildfire smoke risk into early autumn. Coastal breezes offer some relief compared to inland valley locations that see heavier smog buildup.
Are air quality levels in Palm Desert based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?
Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.
During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.
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